College football picks, schedule: ATS predictions, Week 11 big top 25 odds

Week 11 of the 2020 college football season has been absolutely ravaged by COVID-19 postponements. With 30% of games scheduled for Saturday not played – and the Pac-12 calling an audible when throwing a game together for Sunday – there are slim picks, even among the top 25 teams in the country. In fact, there are no showdowns between the ranked teams this weekend despite college football remaining at full steam in its final month.

Newly created Notre Dame No.2 will take part in the afternoon contest as he travels to a tough Boston College team. The last time the Fighting Irish beat the nation’s No.1 team was in 1993 against Florida State. The following week, they face the Eagles and lose. Will history repeat itself, or is Notre Dame too motivated with the college football playoffs on the horizon?

The evening slate features Florida’s No.6, Oregon’s No.11 and Wisconsin’s No.13 in conference games against strong opponents, although neither should necessarily lose. But we are not here to talk about wins and losses. We care about whether these teams will hedge their spreads.

Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the day for college football coverage, from kick off at noon to the final whistle of the day. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for week 11.

Odds via William Hill Sportsbook | Every hour in the East

# 9 Miami at Virginia Tech (noon, ESPN)

When you see a top 10 team on the road as an underdog, it’s not a typo. It’s a signal to trust bettors because they either know something we don’t know or they’ve gotten ahead of what will become obvious in terms of match advantage. D’Eriq King was phenomenal against NC State, but the Hurricanes’ defense was not. I’ll take the Angry Hokies to a bouncy place. Picks: Virginia Tech -2 – Chip Patterson

No. 2 Notre Dame at Boston College (3:30 p.m., ABC)

So you’ve got Notre Dame trying to avoid disappointment in a place where emotional disappointment is entirely plausible, and Boston College isn’t just motivated to host the nation’s No.2 team, but it’s convinced that he can win after the close – upset against Clemson in Death Valley. Plus, it’s the Red Bandana Game, which honors the memory of Welles Crowther, a former Boston College lacrosse player who died at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, after saving up to 18 lives. They have unique uniforms for the occasion, and it’s a special game every year. The cover feels like it’s in the cards, and a total upheaval is not out of the question. Picks: Boston College +13.5 – Chip Patterson

Arkansas at Florida No.6 (7 p.m., ESPN)

Arkansas is 6-0 ATS this year, and it will be 7-0 this week. This game just screams disappointment for the Gators. Kyle Pitts ‘injury dominated the storyline, but winning a big rivalry last week coupled with the Hogs’ tenacity – especially in the trenches – will make it an old-fashioned slugfest. Give me the Gators to win, but the Razorbacks to cover. Picks: Arkansas +17.5 – Barrett Sallee

No. 11 Oregon, Washington (7 p.m. Fox)

Oregon didn’t necessarily push Stanford to submit last week. But the Ducks have comfortably covered a 10-point gap and could have an even bigger talent advantage this week. Washington State got off to a good start under Nick Rolovich by winning in Oregon State. But Oregon has the speed and talent on both sides to turn this into a track competition, and the Ducks should be able to build a lead big enough to cover another 10-point gap. Pick: Oregon (-10) – David Cobb

# 13 Wisconsin, Michigan (7:30 p.m., ABC)

My official advice is to stay away from this game when it comes to betting on it. There is just too much we don’t know before the game to make a confident call. But if you have to, I’d lean towards the Badgers before the Wolverines. I expect Graham Mertz will play, and Michigan’s defense has been torn apart by quarterbacks with less talent than Mertz already. The Wolverines’ pass rush was already nonexistent and lost their best pass hunter to Aidan Hutchinson for the season. Due to the need to cover so long, the Michigan secondary has been torn apart and is continually called out for interference and maintenance. With Mertz playing, I would expect the Badgers to take advantage of it early and often. Picks: Wisconsin -4.5 – Tom Fornelli